Saucony® Observes National Physical Fitness & Sports Month With Saucony Run for Good Foundation Grants

With one in six youth in the U.S. now obese, brand remains committed to getting kids up and running

WALTHAM, MA (May 1, 2023) – With newest data showing one in six youth in the U.S. now affected by obesity (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation), global performance running lifestyle brand Saucony is observing National Physical Fitness & Sports Month with the announcement of the latest round of Saucony Run for Good Foundation grant winners. The Saucony Run for Good Foundation, established in 2006 to help combat childhood obesity, has been an industry leader in supporting nationwide efforts to ensure that children in the U.S. can grow up healthy and fit. Over the past 16 years, the Foundation has awarded more than $1.8 million dollars in grants to nearly 200 schools and community organizations dedicated to preventing childhood obesity through running and proper nutrition. Started in 1983 by the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, National Physical Fitness & Sports Month is celebrated each May to encourage Americans to adopt healthy lifestyles.

The following organizations have been selected to receive a grant from the Saucony Run for Good Foundation in its latest round of awards:

• North Begay III (NB3 Foundation, Santa Anna Pueblo, NM
• Redland’s Christian Migrant Association, Immokalee, FL
• Special Olympics Montana, Great Falls, MT
• Floranada Falcon Run Club, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
• Coleman Elementary, Coleman, WI
• EMBE – Girls on the Run South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD

• Abbotsford Schools – FFF Program, Abbotsford, WI
• Itasca County Family YMCA, Grand Rapids, MN
• Transformation Life Center, Mount Juliet, TN

“National Physical Fitness & Sports Month is a great opportunity to encourage our children to get active and inviting others to join in on the fun,” said Anne Cavassa, president of the Saucony Run for Good Foundation Board of Directors. “Yet, fitness must be more than a one-month endeavor: a healthy, sustainable fitness journey is a lifelong commitment. We hope these grants will make a difference for communities and organizations that are dedicated to supporting kids on their journey to good health. By raising awareness about childhood obesity and creating access for more kids to run, we are working together to keep our children healthy.”

The proportion of American children who are overweight or obese, which has climbed steadily for years, surged to unparalleled levels during the pandemic, according to figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During the pandemic, the U.S. rate of obesity among kids ages 2 to 19 increased to 22.4% in 2020, up from 19.3% in 2019. Obesity increases the risk for health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancer.

Research shows prevention efforts early in life reduce the risk of obesity later. A recent report by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) seeks to reverse the trend by placing greater emphasis on the prevention of childhood obesity, not just the treatment. In addition to a healthier diet, the report also stresses the importance of physical activity, recommending 60 minutes of activity daily. Yet, the JAMA Pediatrics study revealed a decrease of 17 minutes per day in children’s moderate-to-vigorous physical activity from pre-pandemic to during the COVID-19 pandemic, concluding that targeted health initiatives are urgently needed to reverse this trend.

About Saucony: Saucony, the ‘Original Running Brand’ and a division of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW), is a leading global performance running brand that fuses innovation, style and culture. Widely recognized for award-winning technologies including PWRRUN™ PB, PWRRUN+™, and SPEEDROLL™, Saucony creates innovative technical and lifestyle footwear and apparel across Road, Trail and Originals. Founded in 1898, Saucony exists to inspire and enable people to live a better  life through running culture, self-expression and their impact on the world. For more information, go to www.saucony.com.

About the Saucony Run for Good Foundation™: The Saucony Run for Good Foundation is committed to improving the lives of children by helping to prevent and reduce childhood obesity. The Foundation acts to inform the public about its cause and prevention and provides funding to optimize the impact and success of community organizations that promote running and healthy lifestyle programs for youth. Since the Foundation launched in 2006, it has awarded more than $1.8 million dollars in grants to organizations nationwide. For more information, visit www.sauconyrunforgood.com.